Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

About: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais is a education organization based out in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 41631 authors who have published 75688 publications receiving 1249905 citations.

Decentralized Algorithms for Multi-Robot Manipulation via Caging:

Abstract: In this paper we address the problem of transporting objects with multiple mobile robots using the concept of “object closure”. In contrast to other manipulation techniques that are typically derived from form or force closure constraints, object closure requires the less stringent condition that the object be trapped or caged by the robots. Our basic goal in this paper is to develop decentralized control policies for a group of robots to move toward a goal position while maintaining a condition of object closure. We present experimental results that show polygonal mobile robots controlled using visual feedback, transporting a convex polygonal object in an obstacle free environment toward a prescribed goal.

Indigenous Lands, Protected Areas, and Slowing Climate Change

Abstract: Recent climate talks in Copenhagen reaffirmed the crucial role of reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD). Creating and strengthening indigenous lands and other protected areas represents an effective, practical, and immediate REDD strategy that addresses both biodiversity and climate crises at once.

Impaired production of proinflammatory cytokines and host resistance to acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in mice lacking functional myeloid differentiation factor 88

Abstract: Studies performed in vitro suggest that activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) by parasite-derived molecules may initiate inflammatory responses and host innate defense mechanisms against Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we evaluated the impact of TLR2 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) deficiencies in host resistance to infection with T. cruzi. Our results show that macrophages derived from TLR2 (-/-) and MyD88(-/-) mice are less responsive to GPI-mucin derived from T. cruzi trypomastigotes and parasites. In contrast, the same cells from TLR2(-/-) still produce TNF-alpha, IL-12, and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) upon exposure to live T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Consistently, we show that TLR2(-/-) mice mount a robust proinflammatory cytokine response as well as RNI production during the acute phase of infection with T. cruzi parasites. Further, deletion of the functional TLR2 gene had no major impact on parasitemia nor on mortality. In contrast, the MyD88(-/-) mice had a diminished cytokine response and RNI production upon acute infection with T. cruzi. More importantly, we show that MyD88(-/-) mice are more susceptible to infection with T. cruzi as indicated by the higher parasitemia and accelerated mortality, as compared with the wild-type mice. Together, our results indicate that T. cruzi parasites elicit an alternative inflammatory pathway independent of TLR2. This pathway is partially dependent on MyD88 and necessary for mounting optimal inflammatory and RNI responses that control T. cruzi replication during the early stages of infection.

Enfermedades crónica no transmisibles en Brasil: prioridad para enfrentar e investigar

Abstract: Las enfermedades cronicas no transmisibles representan la mayor carga de morbimortalidad en Brasil. En 2011, el Ministerio de Salud Brasileno lanzo un Plan de Acciones Estrategicas para Enfrentar las enfermedades cronicas no transmisibles, enfatizando acciones poblacionales para controlar las enfermedades cardiovasculares, diabetes, cancer y enfermedad respiratoria cronica, predominantemente por el control del cigarro, inactividad fisica, alimentacion inadecuada y uso perjudicial de alcohol. A pesar de la produccion cientifica significativa sobre tales enfermedades y sus factores de riesgo en Brasil, pocos son los estudios de cohorte en este tema. En este contexto, el Estudio Longitudinal de la Salud del Adulto (ELSA-Brasil) acompana 15.105 servidores publicos del pais. Sus datos reflejan la realidad brasilena de altas prevalencias de diabetes e hipertension y de los factores de riesgo. La diversidad de las informaciones producidas permitira profundizar el entendimiento causal de tales enfermedades y subsidiar politicas publicas para enfrentarlas.